24 January

1Lt  ROBERT M. HANSON
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Marine Fighting Squadron 215
New Britain Island
24 January 1944
Lt Hanson was serving as a Fighter Pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 215 in action against enemy Japanese forces at New Britain Island.

While flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked 6 enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying 1 Japanese plane during the action.

Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory over Simpson Harbor on 24 January, 1st Lt. Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against multiple enemy interceptors as they prepared to attacked US Bombers. Before it was over, Hanson brought down 4 Zeroes and probably a fifth.

the months, he proved himself to be a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft.  The second highest kill count of WW2.

He was last seen ditching his crippled aircraft, Lt. Hanson never egressed his bird.